Nemesia plant named ‘Naknem002’

ABSTRACT

A new  Nemesia  plant particularly distinguished by its compact plant growth habit, branching, flowering at the top of the plant and blue flower color is disclosed.

Genus and species: Nemesia caerulea.

Variety denomination: ‘NAKNEM002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia,botanically known as Nemesia caerulea, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘NAKNEM002’. The new cultivar originated from ahybridization made in 2003 in Fujisawa, Japan. An initial cross was madebetween a patented Nemesia caerulea (N. foetens) plant ‘Hubbird’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 12,014) and an individual unnamed, unpatented proprietaryNemesia caerulea plant, both having a blue flower color.

In spring 2003, the female parent line ‘Hubbird’ and the proprietarymale parent were crossed and the F₁ plant line was created. The F₁ seedsproduced by the hybridization were sown in a greenhouse and latertransplanted to an outdoor trial. The F₁ plants were evaluated andselected based on flower color, plant growth habit, flowering at the topof the plant and stem strength.

The F₂ generation seed was sown in October 2003, and the F₃ generationseed was sown in September 2004 and later transplanted to an outdoortrial. In December 2004, 10 plants were selected for further evaluationand for asexual propagation. In March 2005, a single plant selection,‘BB-2A-7’, was chosen based on its blue flower color, compact andbranching plant growth habit, flowering at the top of the plant andstrong stem. This selection was asexually propagated by cuttings inFujisawa, Japan and further evaluated in Fujisawa, Japan in 2005 in anindoor pot trial and an outdoor trial to confirm the uniformity andstability of its characteristics. The selection was found to reproducetrue to type in successive generations of asexual propagation andsubsequently was named ‘NAKNEM002’.

The new cultivar was created in 2003 in Fujisawa, Japan and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly in Fujisawa, Japan over a four-yearperiod. The plant has also been trialed in Salinas, Calif. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif. and Fujisawa, Japan:

-   -   1. Blue flowers;    -   2. Compact growth habit;    -   3. Branching; and    -   4. Flowering at the top of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Nemesia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color; thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs are of a 4-month-old plantgrown in a greenhouse with natural light in a spring trial setting.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and maturefoliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘NAKNEM002’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The plant history was taken on four-month-old plantsgrown from transplant in 5-inch pots from rooted cuttings undergreenhouse conditions. The plants were pinched by nipping and shearingoff new growth to force branching and increased numbers of blooms later.Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references areprimarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon (R.H.S.) (2001 edition). Anatomic labels are from The CambridgeIllustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King,Cambridge University Press.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae        -   Botanical name.—Nemesia caerulea (also known as N. foetens            and N. fruticans).        -   Common names.—Nemesia, Wildeleeubekkie.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—A blue-flowered individual plant of Nemesia            caerulea ‘Hubbird’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,014).        -   Male parent.—A blue-flowered unnamed individual plant of a            proprietary line of Nemesia caerulea (Unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Cuttings will colonize a            2.5 cm diameter by 2.5 cm tall greenhouse tray cell with            peat-based plant media in approximately three to four weeks.            Cuttings are dipped in a normal dilution (1:9) of DIP 'N            GROW root inducing solution in water. The trays are misted            hourly during rooting.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings            are transplanted to pots with a 16 cm diameter, two plants            per pot. Peat-based growing media is used. The pots are            watered using a 150 to 200 ppm fertilizer solution using            20-10-20 fertilizer. The soil is allowed to dry between            watering. During the first few weeks after transplanting the            plants should have evening temperatures around 13° C. to            16° C. for good root growth. When plants reach 7.5 to 10 cm            in height they are pinched back to 5 to 6 leaves to promote            branching. Spring and summer daytime high temperatures in            Salinas, Calif., where the data was collected, range from            16° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately four weeks            when rooted vegetative cuttings are transferred to a 5-inch            diameter pot. Flowering season is all year in the United            States. Vernalization is not required to induce flowering.-   General plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Branching, very compact plant growth habit, fairly            vigorous.        -   Height.—18.0 cm from soil line to top of plant, 1.0 cm from            soil line to first node.        -   Spread.—4.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Life cycle.—Annual, spring plant.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 to 4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—4 to 6 weeks.        -   Flowering season.—Spring to Fall.        -   Root system description.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Branching.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Approximately 10° C. to 35° C.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching.—Freely branching        -   Number of branches.—6 primary branches and numerous            secondary and tertiary lateral branches.        -   Length of branches.—1.5 cm from soil line to first node, 4.0            cm between the nodes, 18.0 cm total length.        -   Diameter of branches.—0.4 cm width by 0.1 cm depth.        -   Internode length.—4.0 cm.        -   Strength of branches.—Moderately strong.        -   Shape of all branches in cross section.—Rectangular with            edges or longitudinal ridges on 4 sides.        -   Branch color.—RHS 143B (Green).        -   Branch texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Anthocyanin.—None.        -   Branch pubescence.—None.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Dentate (toothed).        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Upper: RHS 137A (Green). Lower: RHS 137C (Green).        -   Attachment.—Decurrant.        -   Variegation.—None.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Dull, glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color.—Upper: RHS 137A (Green). Lower: RHS 138B            (Green).-   Flower bud:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—12 to 14 total, 3 to 6 open at            any one time.        -   Shape.—Ovoid with nectar spur.        -   Texture.—Slight amount of pubescence; pubescence color is            RHS N155A (White).        -   Size.—Length: 0.7 cm (including nectar spur). Diameter: 0.4            cm.        -   Color.—RHS 79D (Purple).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type, arrangement.—Zygomorphic solitary            flowers arranged on terminal racemes; 5 petals in a single            whorl. Flowers acropetally from base to apex. Flowers            bilabiate with nectar spur. Flowers face upright and            outward.        -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—About 6 to 8 weeks.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 4.        -   Inflorescence length.—4.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—2.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Flower depth including nectar spur.—1.5 cm.        -   Nectar spur length.—0.4 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet floral scent similar to honeysuckle,            snapdragon or stock.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Not persistant.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity (per flower).—5.        -   Size.—Length (both upper and lower lips): 1.0 cm. Width            (both upper and lower lips): 2.0 cm.        -   Arrangement/shape.—5 petals in a single whorl. Bilabiate            with nectar spur. Upper lip has 4 lobes connected at center            of petal. Lower lip has single lobe curled outward at the            top with nectar spur at bottom. Lower petal has a white            center which guides pollinators.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color (mature).—Upper lip: RHS 92A (Violet-Blue). Lower lip:            RHS 92B (Violet-Blue) with RHS N155A (White) at center.        -   Texture (both upper and lower lips).—Glabrous, soft and            smooth.        -   Nector spur color.—RHS 92D (Violet-Blue).        -   Nectar guide color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Spur length.—0.4 cm.        -   Spur diameter at base.—0.2 cm.        -   Spur diameter at tip.—0.1 cm.        -   Spur texture.—Glabrous, soft and smooth.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Star-shaped.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5 sepals, fused at base. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Color:            RHS 143B (Green). Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Texture            (both surfaces): Slight amount of pubescence.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.05 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143B (Green).        -   Texture.—Moderate amount of pubescence; pubescence color RHS            N155A (White).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—10.0 cm (to first node).        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143B (Green).        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number per flower: 4. Length: 0.25 cm. Filament            color: RHS N155A (White). Filament length: 0.2 cm. Filament            diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 9A (Yellow). Anther            length: Less than 0.1 cm. Pollen amount: Scarce, small            amount. Pollen color: RHS 9B (Yellow).        -   Pistil.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 0.15 cm. Stigma            color: RHS 143C (Green). Stigma length: Less than 0.1 cm.            Style length: 0.1 cm. Style color: RHS 143D (Green). Ovary:            Inferior.-   Fruit and Seed Set: None.-   Disease and Insect Resistance: Has not been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘NAKNEM002’ is a new and unique variety of Nemesia owing to its compactplant growth habit, branching, flowering at the top of the plant, andblue flower color. ‘NAKNEM00’ is most similar to the female parentNemesia variety ‘Hubbird’ (U.S. Plant Pat No. 12,014); however, thereare differences between the two varieties as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘NAKNEM002’ ‘Hubbird’ Petal color: Upper lip RHS92A (Violet-Blue) RHS 86B to 88C to 88D to 87B Nectar guide color RHSN155A (White) RHS 1B to 1C (Yellow-green) Flower bud color RHS 79D(Purple) RHS 76D (Purple) Pedicel color RHS 143B (Green) RHS 138A(Green)

‘NAKNEM002’ is similar to its parents however there are differences asshown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Male Parent Female Parent Characteristic ‘NAKNEM002’ (Unnamed)‘Hubbird’ Flower color Clear Blue Clear Blue Blue Plant growth Compact,Compact, Upright, tall, less habit branching branching branchingBlooming Multi-flowering Multi-flowering Slightly upfacing and upfacingand upfacing. Flowers initiate from a very low node position

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant as shown and describedherein.